These popular old-fashioned cookies are soft, chewy, and entirely coated with a cinnamon-sugar mixture!

Think of something sweet you’d like right at this moment. Now imagine coating it with cinnamon-sugar. Doesn’t it already sound much better?

Old-fashioned snickerdoodles are basically chewy sugar cookies coated in a cinnamon-sugar mixture. What’s not to like?

The batter is basic and very simple to make. While some recipes use shortening as the fat, I like the taste of pure butter in my cookies. Once you’re done making the dough, it should be quite firm and thick. If it’s too soft, chill it in the fridge for 1-2 hours until firm. If you bake the cookies while they’re soft, they’ll spread too much. The thicker they are, the softer and chewier their centers will be, and the happier you and your guests will be.

Next, you’ll need to roll the cookies in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, which is obviously the best part of the recipe. 3 teaspoons of cinnamon may sound a lot, but it tasted perfect to me, although who knows what my taste buds are used to? You can start with adding 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon to the sugar, then adding more if desired.

If you’re wondering what cream of tartar is and what it’s doing in your cookies, here’s a short explanation: Snickerdoodles are sometimes confused with sugar cookies since they share the same basic ingredients. However, there is one thing that a snickerdoodle has that a sugar cookie doesn’t, and that is cream of tartar. This ingredient gives the snickerdoodle its traditional tangy taste and adds to the chewiness of the cookie. With that said, if you don’t have any, you can substitute the cream of tartar AND the baking soda in this recipe with 2 teaspoons of baking powder.
Basically, if you want a classic snickerdoodle, use cream of tartar. If you just want a delicious cookie and don’t care about the old-fashioned taste, feel free to substitute the cream of tartar with baking powder (but don’t forget to omit the baking soda as well).

Today, I actually tried making these cookies using baking powder, and they were still chewy and delicious. In all honesty, I even enjoyed them just as much as regular snickerdoodle cookies (but don’t tell anyone!).

Start watching the cookies after 8 minutes in the oven. The edges should just begin to brown and the interior should look soft. We want a crispy edge, but a chewy, soft center. The longer you bake them, the crispier they become.

These popular old-fashioned cookies are soft, chewy, and entirely coated with a cinnamon-sugar mixture!

Ingredients

Cookies:

2¾ cups (370 grams/13 ounces) all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar* (see notes for substitution)

1 teaspoon baking soda*

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks or 230 grams) butter, at room temperature

1½ cup (300 grams/10.5 ounces) granulated sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Cinnamon-Sugar Coating:

¼ cup (50 grams or 1.8 ounces) granulated sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon (or less, depending on taste)

Instructions

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

In a mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed just until combined. Do not over mix.

If the dough is soft at this point, chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours or until firm. This step results in thicker cookies that will spread less while baking.

Preheat oven to 375F/190C. Line pans with parchment paper.

Make the cinnamon-sugar mixture: In a small bowl, toss together sugar and cinnamon.

Shape the dough into balls, around 1.5 tablespoons each (use an ice-cream scoop or heaping tablespoon), roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, and place on the cookie sheet. Using your hands or the bottom of a glass, very slightly flatten each cookie, leaving them thick. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, until cookies begin to brown at the edges but the center is still soft. Cookies will appear undone but will continue to bake on the warm baking sheet. Leave cookies to cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then gently transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Store cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Cookies can be frozen for up to 2 months.

* Cream of tartar is used in traditional snickerdoodle recipes and gives it the cookies a unique tangy taste and chewy texture. Still, you can substitute the cream of tartar AND the baking soda from the recipe and instead use 2 teaspoons of baking powder.

Shiran

Just curious, at which point in the instructions do you put the cinnamon-sugar coating on the cookies? While they are still balls or after they have been flattened out? I’m really looking forward to making these!

Shiran

December 18, 2014 at 1:46 am (2 years ago)

Hi Olga! The cookies don’t spread because of the cream of tartar, and there are a few reasons why they could spread. I’ve tried this recipe for many times, and it always turns out super puffy. My best advice for you is to chill the dough in the fridge for a few hours before baking, preferably overnight. It will make the dough firm and the cookies would spread much less while baking. You can also try replacing some of the butter with shortening, but I suggest starting with the chilling and see if it works. Also, make sure that your baking soda and cream of tartar are fresh. Hope this helps!

Shiran

April 20, 2015 at 7:04 am (2 years ago)

Hi Nassim, I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe 🙂 The best way to defrost cookies is leave them on the counter, still covered, or overnight in the fridge. If you need to speed up the defrosting process, you can also place them in a warm oven.

Shiran

July 16, 2015 at 1:29 pm (1 year ago)

Cream of tartar gives the snickerdoodle its traditional tangy taste and adds to the chewiness of the cookie, so yes, it would slightly affect the taste and texture but with the baking powder the cookies are just as delicious and puffy. if you want a classic snickerdoodle, use cream of tartar. If you just want a delicious cookie and don’t care about the old-fashioned taste,then make the substitution and use baking powder.

Oh, wow! I was searching for a soft and chewy snickerdoodle recipe on Google, but I have no cream of tartar on hand. I did what you suggested with the baking powder instead. Your cookie recipe is divine! Soft, thick, pillowy cookies. I’m keeping this one forever. Thank you!!!

Shiran

Hey Shiran I was just about to make these cookies they sound so good! My one question is when I am substituting the cream of tarter do I just not use the cream of tarter and the baking soda or do I use both the baking soda and the baking powder?
Thank you!

Shiran

I made this today as per my daughter’s request. It’s my first ever cookies to bake and I was thrilled to make it right. I used the substitute thing.. Thank u so much for this recipe. We were happy to eat it and will definitely make it again!

These were awesome! I was looking for a snickerdoodle recipe and I’m so glad I found yours. I didn’t flatten them out. Just rolled them in the cinnamon sugar mix and baked them at 400 degrees for 9 minutes. Turned out perfect!